Pages

bet365

Friday, 18 October 2013

"Joy is short-lived in this job. I think we have earned the right to enjoy the fruits of our labours. Instead, we get this"

Robbed Roy: Hodgson is annoyed he can't revel in making it to Brazil

Ian Walton

Roy Hodgson is furious that the 'space-monkey' joke controversy has overshadowed his England side's qualification for the World Cup.
Three Lions manager Hodgson has been defended over his "feed the monkey" instructions to the team at half-time of Tuesday's decisive win over Poland, intended to remind them to keep passing to in-form winger Andros Townsend.Wayne Rooney called the ensuing stories "annoying" and "ridiculous", while Townsend himself has tweeted that no offence was taken.
Now, Hodgson has said: "Joy is short-lived in this job. The players are as angry about this as I am.
"We
have just had a successful period and, although I wouldn't suggest we
intend to rest on our laurels, I think we have earned the right to enjoy
the fruits of our labours.
"Instead, we get this."
In
reference to the joke at the heart of the controversy, Hodgson said: "I
admit some of the younger players may not have understood the reference
to the monkey in space.
"They may not have heard the expression before but that's a generational thing.
"I
meant 'Give the ball to the players who can make thing happen.' There
was no other connotation and no offence was taken by any of the
players."
Hodgson had already apologised on Wednesday night.
Then,
he said: "I would like to apologise if any offence has been caused by
what I said at half-time. There was absolutely no intention on my part
to say anything inappropriate. I made this clear straight away to Andros
in the dressing room.
"I also spoke to Andros again on Wednesday.
He has assured me and The FA he did not take any offence, and
understood the point I was making in the manner I intended."
New
FA chairman Greg Dyke also offered his unqualified support, insisting NO
complaint had been made against Hodgson, NONE of the players were
unhappy with his language and that the 66-year-old would face NO censure
from his Wembley bosses.
Dyke said: “Roy Hodgson is a man of the
highest integrity, an honourable man who is doing a great job with the
England team. He has and deserves the full support of the Football
Association.
“He has made clear there was no intent to say
anything inappropriate, and he was certainly not making any comments
with any racist connotation. Importantly, he has apologised for any
unintended offence that may have been taken.
“Roy has spoken with
Andros Townsend and a number of the players since the game and he has
been assured there are no problems within the squad whatsoever.
“Additionally,
the FA has not had a complaint from any squad member or player
representative, and we have today talked extensively to the squad.
“The
FA has been assured by the players that there are no problems and they
understand the point Roy was making and the context in which he was
speaking.”
Anti-racism campaigners Kick It Out were appeased by
the FA’s swift response to the storm, saying: “If there has been no
complaint on the back of the investigation, then the matter can only be
deemed as concluded.”